Sponge having a reservoir for cleaning liquid

ABSTRACT

A sponge is attached to a hand-manipulated fluid reservoir and a finger-manipulated valve is disposed between the sponge and the reservoir for selectively controlling the flow of fluid. The sponge is secured to the reservoir by means of locking studs carried by straps disposed in slots provided in the sponge.

United States Patent Lorio 1 SPONGE HAVING A RESERVOIR FOR CLEANING LIQUID [72] Inventor:- Angelo Lorio, 161 Bleecker Street,

Brooklyn, NY. 11221 221 Filed: March 22,1971

21 Appl.No.: 126,510

[52] US. Cl. ..401/205, 15/244 R {51] Int. Cl. ..A47l 13/17 [58] Field of Search...15/l16 A, 119 A, 244 R, 244

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,255,053 l/l918 Satrum et a1 ..15/244 UX 3,355,240 11/1967 Schwartzman ..401/205 1,929,884 10/1933 Fisher ..401/205 X 1 Oct. 17, 1972 3,419,930 1/1969 Grunert ..15/244 X 1,506,305 8/1924 Kelly ..401/263 X 2,100,855 11/1937 Kelly ..401/205 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 498,847 11/1950 Belgium ..401/205 466,474 7/1950 Canada ..15/1 19 1,427,363 12/1965 France ..15/244 R Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum Attorney-Kenw0od Ross and Chester E. F lavin [57] ABSTRACT A sponge is attached to a hand-manipulated fluid reservoir and a finger-manipulated valve is disposed between the sponge and the reservoir for selectively controlling the flow of fluid. The sponge is secured to the reservoir by means of locking studs carried by straps disposed in slots provided in the sponge.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEBncr 11 m2 3.698.824

.IIIIIIIIIII 20 v INVENTOR.

ANGELO LORIO ATTORNEYS.

SPONGE HAVING A RESERVOIR FOR CLEANING LIQUID A primary object of the invention is to provide simple and inexpensive apparatus for washing vehicles, windows, walls and other surfaces, the apparatus carrying its own supply of fluid, which may be water or cleaning fluid, and having a simple valve for controlling the flow of the fluid.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a plan view of washing apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the sponge anchoring means and its relation to the sponge and reservoir;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the spongeanehoring means; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the valve means of the washing apparatus.

The washing apparatus generally comprises:

a reservoir for water or cleaning fluid; a sponge or similar cleaning implement 12 mounted on the reservoir; and a valve means 14 disposed between the sponge and the reservoir for controlling the flow of fluid from the reservoir.

Reservoir 10 is a closed container preferably, but not necessarily, of rectangular shape, provided with a capped filler inlet 16 in one side wall 17 thereof and, optionally, a hand grip 18 on one end wall 19 thereof. On small models, the hand grip may be omitted, in which case the reservoir will be of such width as to be adapted to be gripped easily by the hand.

The opposite side wall 20 of the reservoir is provided with a recess 21 in which a gasket 22 is seated, the gasket being disposed between the reservoir and valve means I4.

Valve means 14 comprises a flat disc 24 having an integral, coplanar finger-engaging handle 26 extending outwardly therefrom, the valve means being mounted for rotation by means of a pivot pin 28 which extends through the disc, gasket 22 and adjacent wall 20 of reservoir 10.

A plurality of equi-spaced, circumferentially arranged openings 30 in wall 20 provides communication with the interior of reservoir 10, the openings 30 being in registration with like openings 32 through gasket 22.

A plurality of like equi-spaced, circumferentially arranged openings 34 through disc 24 of valve means 14 is adapted to be moved into and out of registration with the openings 30 and 32 to selectively close off and open these openings, thereby precluding or permitting the escape of fluid through the valve means to sponge 12 disposed immediately adjacent thereto.

The sponge is attached to the reservoir by anchoring means generally indicated by 36 and comprising two or more straps 38 each insertible into a slot or slit 40 extending transversely through the sponge, each strap carrying locking studs 42 which extend through aligned openings 44 and 46 in the sponge and wall 20 of the reservoir respectively.

Heads 48 of studs 42 are adapted to pass freely through openings 50 in the straps. However, when the studs are turned the heads extend transversely across the openings to secure the studs relative to the straps.

To assemble the sponge to the reservoir, straps 38 are inserted in slits 40 in the spon e, the heads 48 of locking studs 42 are inserted throug the opening 44 m the sponge and the opening 50 in the strap and twisted, and the lower pointed ends 52 of the studs are inserted in the openings 46 in wall 20 of the reservoir, whereupon pressure is applied to the sponge to snap the studs through the openings in the reservoir, the studs and the reservoir each preferably being formed from a deformable plastic material.

To use the washer, fluid is placed in the reservoir, the sponge placed against the surface to be cleaned, and the valve means rotated in one direction to permit the fluid to flow from the reservoir to the sponge. A slight rotation of the valve means in the opposite direction cuts off the flow of the fluid to the sponge, as desired.

Iclaim:

1. Washing apparatus comprising: a reservoir for fluid, a cleaning implement in the form of a sponge, valve means disposed between the reservoir and sponge for selectively controlling the passage of fluid from the reservoir to the sponge and comprising a flat disc mounted for rotation relative to the reservoir and having a plurality of openings therein adapted for selective registration with openings in the reservoir a sealing gasket disposed between the valve means and the reservoir, means for attaching the sponge to the reservoir comprising a strap disposed in a slot provided in the sponge and extending transversely across the sponge and a plurality of locking studs extending through the strap and the sponge and into the reservoir, the locking studs each being engageable in an opening in the reservoir in the manner of a press fit and having a head adapted to pass freely through an opening in the strap and upon rotation of the stud to span the opening in the strap for securing the stud relative to the strap.

i III III 

1. Washing apparatus comprising: a reservoir for fluid, a cleaning implement in the form of a sponge, valve means disposed between the reservoir and sponge for selectively controlling the passage of fluid from the reservoir to the sponge and comprising a flat disc mounted for rotation relative to the reservoir and having a plurality of openings therein adapted for selective registration with openings in the reservoir a sealing gasket disposed between the valve means and the reservoir, means for attaching the sponge to the reservoir comprising a strap disposed in a slot provided in the sponge and extending transversely across the sponge and a plurality of locking studs extending through the strap and the sponge and into the reservoir, the locking studs each being engageable in an opening in the reservoir in the manner of a press fit and having a head adapted to pass freely through an opening in the strap and upon rotation of the stud to span the opening in the strap for securing the stud relative to the strap. 